Mike Moore, an SAP technical solution architect, explains the benefits of using an N+1 landscape model when making project and production support changes, including long production support freezes. He shows how to implement it, drawing on lessons learned during deployment.

Understand the complexities of breaking down a complex SAP project implementation into manageable chunks, reflecting a scope capable of aligning with and meeting an organization’s specific goals. Build an implementation approach and business case by understanding the advantages and disadvantages of variations of the phased approach. Finally, learn how to use the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model to evaluate the alternatives in a scientific way, as well as perform sensitivity analysis and a head-to-head comparison of alternatives.

Are you thinking about creating a business continuity plan (BCP) to be prepared when disaster strikes? We spoke with Michael Wallace and Lawrence Webber, authors of The Disaster Recovery Handbook, to find out what you need to know about BCP.

As a smaller enterprise in a big SAP world, Powell Electronics created an upgrade plan from SAP R/3 4.7 to SAP ERP 6.0 in much the same way it sells its electronic connectors, switches, and sensors: in small components that are independently valuable, and when combined, assemble to become part of a solution worth far more than the sum of its parts.

Johns Hopkins University and Heath System runs a complex SAP environment that includes financial, supply chain, and HR solutions and more than 10,000 users. Learn how the training demand for those users led Johns Hopkins to move from its original demo-only class structure to build a standalone training client in which students can get hands-on experience in the SAP system.

As the economy improves and companies’ access to capital continues to grow, so too does the amount of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across a variety of industries. If M&A activity reaches your company, will you be prepared to integrate unfamiliar systems together under one unified ERP environment?

With the recent rise in enterprise support fees, SAP systems need to be meticulously managed to achieve the lowest TCO possible and gain the most value from your investment. Learn how the Run SAP methodology can assist you in accomplishing that goal by guiding you through the solution operation components of your SAP implementations with leading practices and SAP standards.

Is the real meaning and importance behind governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) a vague notion in your company? We talked to SAP’s own Norman Marks to get his views on the subject and hear his definition of GRC.

Every IT manager is under pressure to deliver within ever-tightening budgets. But how? Cindy Rasey, a practice manager at Symmetry Corporation, follows a five-step plan that can help you lower your IT organization’s operational costs.

As the economy faltered in late 2008 and early 2009, it became clear that the companies with the best chance of success were those that could adapt quickly and find new ways to improve operational efficiency. At Bayer MaterialScience, surviving the downturn would require improving several processes along its supply chain.

Albert H. Segars is the faculty director of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise, an RBC Bank Distinguished Professor, and the Chair of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For the past six years, he’s studied dozens of ERP implementations as an academic and consultant. We recently spoke with Segars to gather his advice on what makes and breaks an ERP implementation.

Growing a healthy business is like growing a healthy garden — you need the right amount of sunlight in just the right spots. Using the right SAP NetWeaver Portal and SAP BusinessObjects tools, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company was able to build a robust workbench to illuminate the right data for the sales staff.

Determining which functionality to implement or activate from an SAP enhancement package poses a significant challenge. To simplify this process, SAP now offers a free service called Business Function Prediction, which uses real data from your system to recommend functionality specifically for your needs. Learn how the service works and how SAP plans to enhance it in the future.

Virtualization is no longer a new concept for most SAP companies, yet many are just getting on the bandwagon. SAP upgrade expert Lon Blake explains several virtualization options SAP project teams should consider, and how they can get the most out of the SAP Adaptive Computing Controller — SAP’s customized approach to virtualization.

The Quality Management (QM) module from SAP offers a wide range of functionality to help manage your quality initiatives. However, it is often implemented improperly — causing severe pain down the road. Enowa consultant Doug TenBrock says the key to getting your QM implementation right is to conduct an intensive one-day roadmap session.

Formalizing your testing strategy will go a long way toward ensuring that issues and enhancements are dealt with quickly and at minimal cost. Nathan Sharp of Siemens shares 10 key elements of a successful testing strategy.

Earned Value Management (EVM) is a method for calculating overall project progress in a single metric. See how an SAP consulting team is applying EVM to track project progress during a large banking implementation.

Enhancement packages are designed to simplify the process of enhancing your SAP ERP system. However, companies must approach enhancement packages carefully. See how AEI developed its own best practices for preparing and implementing enhancement packages.

Securing user adoption in a multi-language global project requires careful planning beyond simply activating the language features of SAP. In this article, Camilo Muñoz of Translation Source identifies six rules for ensuring your user community buys in from the beginning.